[Normal spirometric values in the Sicilian population].

Abstract

Principal spirometric parameters have been measured in a sample group of 1641 male subjects. Due to the significant difference in values often found when using the standards proposed by CECA (1983) (particularly in the medico-legal field) in order to obtain reference values as close as possible to the local norm the chosen subjects are clinically and functionally healthy and come from different parts of Sicily. The regression plots obtained using three independent variables (age, weight, height) other than demonstrating a good affinity with the original sample and an elevated predictivity level, underline the difference between obtained reference values and European ones (higher for VC and FEV 1; lower for FRC and RV) even though evolutive trend and ageing overlap. The above mentioned difference, found also for some parameters (VC and FEV 1) using normal Italian standards can be explained; not only by different evaluations of normal conditions, respiratory risk, smoking etc., but also by the existence of a different ethnic constitution which influences in various ways the ventilatory parameters.